Archie Bell & The Drells--Tighten Up (1968)

     Archie Bell was from a family of high achievers. His brother Jerry was a karate champion and lead singer of the the Dazz Band. Another brother, Ricky played in the NFL with Tampa Bay and San Diego.      In 1967, the T.S.U. Tornadoes had developed a cool instrumental riff, but nothing else beyond that. Skipper Lee Frazer, a Houston disc jockey who worked with T.S.U. and the Drells suggested they get together and build a song around that riff. Thus was born, "Tighten Up".      Shortly...

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The Beau Brummels--Laugh, Laugh (1965)

     The Beau Brummels was a group out of San Francisco who had a couple of hits in 1965. The group should have done better, but a combination of internal strife, the attempt on the part of their management to position them as a Beatles-like group, and some plain back luck (like poor distribution on some singles) kept undermining their potential. As it was the group stayed together until 68, broke up, reformed for a couple of years in the mid-70's then finally called it a day...

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Fontella Bass--Rescue Me (1965)

    Every once in awhile I have nothing to say about a song, but it sounds great and want to share it with you. Fontella Bass is from St. Louis which gives her an advantage in my book (being a St. Louis boy myself), and in the mid-60's this song was all over the airwaves. Bass had a couple of hits in 1965, but soon faded from view and retired in the early 70's to raise her family. She has made a few appearances on PBS specials and the like....have a great Sunday.....

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Toni Basil--Mickey (1982)

     By 1980, Antonia Basilotta, better known as Toni Basil, had enjoyed a successful career as a   choreographer and actress. Her work could be seen on film (The T.A.MI. show, 1964), on television (Shindig 1966) and then later doing work on tours for David Bowie and Bette Midler among others.  Much of work was on B-films in the late 60's and 70's, but can be seen in the movies, "Easy Rider", and "Five Easy Pieces"      She recorded her first single in 1966, "Breakaway", but had not recorded since...

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Len Barry--- 1-2-3 (1965)

    Len Barry wanted to be a baseball player after his graduation from high school. Instead, he went into the service for a stint, and found himself singing a little with the Army bands. The response he received encouraged him to do more of it, and then upon discharge chose to pursue music.      He returned to his home in Philadelphia and became the lead singer of the Dovells. For a three years stretch, they reached the top 40 five times, including top 5 hits, "Bristol Stomp" (it was not his voice on the record,...

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The Bangels--Manic Monday (1986)

     The Bangels started out as a power pop band that had a fixation on British rock from the 60's. Their first album, "All Over the Place" is still (in my opinion) by far the best album they have ever done. It was that recording that caught the ear of Prince who had a song that was originally intended for the group "Apollonia 6" and their debut album. At the last minute, he pulled the song and had done nothing with it since.          The girls were flattered, but did not record the song with the...

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Bananarama--Venus (1986)

     Whenever I want to listen to catchy, fun, 80's style dance music, this song, along with ,"I Heard a Rumor" are two that make the top of the list. Childhood friends  Keren Woodward, Sara Dallin along with Siobhan Fahey, who they met in art school, already had a number of successful hits in the UK. 1983's, "Cruel Summer" broke through to the top ten in America, but they had encountered a bit of a slump and had hooked up with the production team of Stock, Aitken & Waterman which breathed new life into their career.  ...

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Anita Baker--Giving you the Best I Got (1988)

     In the late 80's, Anita Baker and Luther Vandross ruled what was known as "Quiet Storm". It was basically R&B's version of soft rock, and had been around since the mid-70's and both singers re-energized the genre. Baker's voice wrapped around you like a warm blanket on a cold day and after breaking through in 1987 was on a roll. 'Giving You the Best I Got" was her most successful song on the Billboard top 100. It's a damp cool day here in Nashville....and after being outside in the rain, could use warm and cozy.....hope...

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Joan Baez--Diamonds and Rust (1975)

     Joan Baez is a treasure in the music world that should never be forgotten. Her beauty and distinctive vocal talents was accompanied with a passion for social justice that has never wavered in the over 50 years since her first album in 1960. However, it seems as if she had been overshadowed musically (at least in the decades since the 60's) by Bob Dylan, and then by other artists such as Joni Mitchell and Judy Collins.        In fact, it was Baez who, in covering one of Dylan/s songs brought him...

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Bad Company---Can't Get Enough (1974)

     You don't hear the word, "supergroup" thrown about much anymore, but at one time it was thought to be a hope that if you bring guys from successful groups and put them together that it will automatically produce great music (or even less likely good chemistry...i.e. see Blind Faith). Most put together like that don't last for long for lack of a spark. Which just goes to show that what makes up a  good group is more than just good musicians. There are a few exceptions to the rule, and Bad Company is one of those.     ...

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The Babys--Isn't It Time (1977)

     There are certain groups in rock history that are known by their songs, but are not terribly identifiable. The Babys came along at a time when the ground of popular music was undergoing seismic shifts due to the growing popularity of disco and the influence of punk. The group's lineup at it's height, vocalist/bassist John Waite, drummer Tony Brock, keyboardist/guitarist Michael Corby, and guitarist Wally Stocker, all went on (except for Corby) to successful careers elsewhere.      Listening now, the...

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Patti Austin w/James Ingram--Baby Come to Me (1982)

     In the modern history of music, there can be many variables that can make a song a hit. The news of the day can effect it, as can the mood of the population. At times, cross pollination (i.e television, You Tube...etc.) will push a song up the charts. The story of this song was an example of this.      Patti Austin already had a solid career singing backup on other people's music, and doing jingles. Although only 22 at the time of this recording, she had a lot of experience, with her first time on stage...

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Petula Clark--Downtown (1964)

     Petula Clark had grown up in front of the British public. By the age of 12 she was being cast in films and not many years later was recording as well, being called, "The British Shirley Temple". As she grew into an adult her success began to shift to the UK charts and then to France and Germany where she sang in those languages to the delight of her listening public. She loved France to the point that she moved to Paris, married and in quick succession had two children by 1964.       Her record...

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Atlantic Starr--Always (1987)

    Atlantic Starr began in 1976 as a 7 piece, later to expand to as many as 10 and began having some successes on the R&B charts in 78. By 1985 the group had been paired down to five; David, Wayne, and Jonathan Lewis, Joseph Philips, and Barbara Weathers, and began to find crossover action. "Secret Lovers" off of the album, "As The Band Turns" reached to #3 on the Top 100, and set them up for their biggest hit two years later.          "Always" was off of the album, "All in the Name of Love" and...

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Rick Astley--Together Forever (1987)

     So much of the time, when attempting to define popular music within culture, we do it many times through the prism of the popular. But to get a much more focused view we look at those who give us a brief snapshot of the times These artists may not have a lot of popularity over the long haul, but their performances give us a much sharper look into that exact moments in time. There are many who fit into this category.        Rick Astley perfectly defined mid/late 80's dance music. The former drummer/singer...

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Asia--The Heat of the Moment (1982)

     I've always been a bit conflicted about Asia. They were born out of the general meltdown of the progressive rock movement and the lineup certainly had the rep; John Wetton, Geoff Downs, Steve Howe, and Carl Palmer had all been with groups who were at the top of their game less than 10 years before.      Many of us who grew up listening to King Crimson, Yes, and Emerson, Lake, and Palmer though them to be "selling out". Being quite a bit older now, and having dealt with the music business to some degree,...

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April Wine--Just Between You and Me (1981)

     Listening to this song, I'm wondering where the genesis of the"power ballad" developed? From about this period until the early 90's, many a hard rock band grasped at the golden ring (i.e. hit single) for a nice payday while attempting to keeping their fans by rocking out on albums. Hair metal band made this into a bit of an art form in the late 80's. Of course, there was a danger in doing this as many a group found themselves typecast and would eventually lose fan base attempting that trick.       ...

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Adam Ant--Goody Two Shoes (1982)

     Stuart Leslie Goddard had changed his name to Adam Ant in 1977 and put together his own band called Adam and the Ants to explore his fascination with the punk rock movement that was in full swing in the UK at the time. Their debut release, "Dirk Wears White Socks" was a bit of a mix (and a sloppy one at that) of several different styles as they attempted to find a voice. That was pushed along by the meeting of Malcolm McLaren, who at the time was the manager of the Sex Pistols, who was asked to manage Ant's band. This he...

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Bonnie Raitt--Runaway (1977)

     Bonnie Raitt was one of those folks who never had breakthrough success until much later in her career. She had developed her bluesy chops into a viable commercial sound, but it took 20 years for that to happen. Back in the 70's however, she was a very respected artist who was a staple on FM rock stations.      The daughter of Broadway actor John Raitt and his first wife, pianist Marjorie Haydock and raised Quaker, Bonnie had no intention at all to perform, much less to play the blues. It wasn't until...

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Joni Mitchell--Both Sides Now (1969)

     Joni Mitchell had made the rounds as an artist. From her roots in Western Canada, to the streets and clubs of Toronto, Detroit,  New York City, and finally to California, her popularity among other musicians was growing. While in New York, her songwriting had come to the attention of Tom Rush and Buffy Saint-Marie and Judy Collins who made, "Both Sides Now" a hit.      David Crosby was visiting when after hearing her in a club in Florida, convinced her to travel to Los Angeles with him, where she...

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Music Review: Brian Wilson--In the Key of Disney (2011)

My brief review of Brian Wilson's new album, "In The Key Of Disney" http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/9121007/music_review_brian_wilsonin_the_key.html?cat...

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Art Garfunkel--All I Know (1973)

     Am not sure why, but have always been more of a fan of Simon & Garfunkel then of the two of them solo. It's not that they have not had moments. Paul Simon's first album post-S&G is very enjoyable and some of his 80's output (especially Graceland) is splendid. Art Garfunkel's fans are extremely loyal, but I've just never been a fan of his solo material....except for the album, "Angel Claire". One could say this release was very close vocally to "Bridge Over Troubled Water", which is maybe why I like it so much. No...

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Chuck Mangione--Feels So Good (1978)

     The 70's brought a hybrid of Jazz-pop that was more pop than jazz. There were several purveyors of this, with Maynard Ferguson and Chuck Mangione being the most popular.        Chuck Mangione had been making recordings since 1960. First with his brother Gap, then with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, The National Gallery, then with his own quartet in the 1970's. They began to break through to a larger audience with a Grammy in 1977 for best instrumental, and his, "Chase the Clouds Away" being used in...

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Davie Allan & The Arrows--Blue's Theme (1967)

     One of the sub-genres of teen movies in the 60's was the biker movie. Low budget,  unintentionally funny (especially now), and a way for actors and actresses get their foot in the door. "The Wild Angels"  was a great example of this. Made in 1966, it starred Peter Fonda, Nancy Sinatra, Bruce Dern, and Diane Ladd and was made by B-movie king, Roger Corman. It was a terrible movie, but entertaining nonetheless (the trailer for it is a hoot), and was the 12th grossing picture in 66.      Not...

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Maxine Nightingale--Right Back Where We Started From (1975)

     Maxine Nightingale had a good run on London's West End for several years. "Hair", "Jesus Christ Superstar", and "Godspell" among others. She had cut a few singles in the early 70's that went nowhere on the charts...and from that point made it clear she wasn't interested in recording solo again.      It was in 1975 that Maxine went to the studio to lay backing vocals on a record for Al Matthews. The producer for the sessions, Pierre Tubbs was enamored by her voice and sought a friend, J. Vincent Edwards,...

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Music Review: The Beach Boys--The Smile Sessions (2011)

My brief review of this historic release can be found here: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/9106905/music_review_the_beach_boysthe_smile.html?cat...

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Alive n' Kickin'--Tighter, Tighter (1970)

    There are some stories that inspire me more than others, and the story of Alive n' Kickin' is one of those. The band formed in 1968 and was soon signed to Roulette Records which was known mostly for Tommy James. James had written a song for them, "Crystal Blue Persuasion", but liked it so well that he kept it for himself and instead wrote, "Tighter, Tighter". It was released in the spring of 1970 and reached #7 on the charts. A second song, "Just Let It Come" was on the top 100, then the group faded from view and finally disbanded...

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